Hong Kong experienced a dramatic weather event as nearly 10,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes illuminated the skies from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
The city, accustomed to high humidity levels in April, saw a sudden deluge of rain accompanied by thunder and lightning, catching many residents off guard during their workday commutes.
The spectacle began at 9:00 pm on Tuesday, with the city’s weather observatory recording an astonishing 5,914 lightning bolts in just one hour. By 10:59 am on Wednesday, the total number of ground-to-lightning strikes had reached 9,437, primarily concentrated in Hong Kong’s New Territories East region.
Even Hong Kong Island, known for its towering residential buildings, was heavily impacted by the near-constant bolts of lightning.
The thunderstorm caused disruptions across the city, including delays at Hong Kong’s international airport and damage in the eastern Sai Kung region. Video footage shared on social media showed violent winds whipping at a Cantonese opera theatre constructed from bamboo scaffolding, highlighting the intensity of the storm’s impact.
The weather observatory issued warnings of continued showers and “squally thunderstorms” throughout Wednesday evening and into Thursday, urging residents to remain cautious and prepared for further disruptions.
The timing of the storm coincided with planned celebrations for May 1, marking the start of China’s Golden Week holiday.
Despite preparations for a pyrotechnics show to mark the occasion, the stormy weather forced organizers to reconsider, potentially impacting the festivities for both locals and Chinese travelers visiting Hong Kong for the holiday period.
Comments